Luis Enrique named FIFA World Coach of the Year

Barcelona boss Luis Enrique has been named the FIFA World Coach of the Year for 2015 at the Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich.

Luis Enrique won the award, which is based on votes from international captains, coaches and selected members of the global media, ahead of Chile head coach Jorge Sampaoli and Bayern Munich’s Pep Guardiola.

The former Celta Vigo head coach led the Camp Nou side to an historic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League in 2014-15 – his first season in charge.

The calendar year of 2015 also saw Luis Enrique – who did not attend the ceremony itself – win the FIFA Club World Cup, with Barca defeating River Plate in the final last month.

Luis Enrique is the sixth different winner of the accolade and the second Barcelona coach to win the award after Guardiola himself triumphed in 2011.

Bundesliga winner Guardiola made the top three for the fourth time in six years, while Sampaoli, who led Chile to the Copa America, reached the final stage for the first time in his career.

Barca technical secretary Robert Fernandez, who collected the award on Luis Enrique’s behalf, said: “It must have been a very difficult choice because the other candidates very, very high quality.

“Luis wants to share this award, given that there are so many people who have supported him in difficult times and good times, with the staff, the president, the board, the fans and our players. This is an incredible dream team that has pushed us forward.”